Hindutva groups are mounting pressure on the authorities to demolish a mosque in Madhya Pradesh’s capital city of Bhopal calling the Muslim place of worship “illegal” and part of “Land Jihad”. Muslim residents steadfastly reject the allegation saying they have all the relevant documents to prove their point. As part of their protest, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal members marched towards the mosque in the Hatai Kheda area. 

The protesters wanred that if the administration does not take bulldozer action against the mosque, they will demolish the religious place themselves. The Hindutva protesters shouted slogans “Land Jihad will not be allowed”. “We will demolish the mosque at any cost. We will raze it even if the government does not allow it. Let the government do whatever it wants. They can put me behind bars or hang me,” said another protestor raising slogans against the mosque.

It is worth mentioning that Hindutva groups in India have coined terms like "land jihad" and "love jihad" to justify attacks on Muslims and their institutions. "Land jihad" falsely accuses Muslims of strategically acquiring land, while "love jihad" propagates the baseless claim that Muslim men lure Hindu women into conversion through marriage.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)